Four Plumbing Tips for the Laundry Room

Have you ever thought about how much laundry your household does? The average American home does five to seven loads each week. Because there are very few alternatives for washing clothes, one of the most important plumbing functions in a house is your washing machine. Following are four tips you can use to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your laundry facilities.

Check the Hoses

Every washing machine has two different hoses, one for hot and one for cold. These hoses are usually made out of rubber and they come fitted with connectors to attach to the appliance and the pipes. Overtime, the rubber will begin to deteriorate and can burst causing a flood. Check the hoses periodically for cracks or other signs of wear and tear. You may even want to replace these hoses with burst-resistant hoses that are made out of stainless steel. If you have any questions about them, just ask one of our plumbers.

Use Drain Strainers

Every load of laundry sends lint, soap, and debris through the hoses and down the drain. You can reduce clogs in your drains by using strainers to keep the lint out of the pipes. There are three drains that should be equipped with strainers:

Hose strainers for both the hot and cold lines

Laundry drains in the floor

Sink drains

You can buy these strainers from a hardware store.

Clean the Pipes Regularly

Soap scum and any debris that escapes past the strainer can build up in your pipes. Regular maintenance can help keep your pipes flowing smoothly:

Once a week you should run very hot water through the lines. This will help dissolve the soap scum and wash it down the line.

Once a month pour a pipe cleaner such as Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield® down your drains. This will help break up any buildup as well as protect the pipes from additional buildup.

Call a Roto-Rooter plumber if you get a clogged pipe that the previous two solutions can't handle.

Prevent Sewer Odors from Escaping

Every drain should have a p-trap located near the drain. Because of the low point in the p-trap, water should stay in that spot at all times. This creates a seal that prevents gasses and odors from escaping through the drain. If you begin to notice smells coming out of the drain, pour a couple gallons of water into the drain to refresh the seal in the p-trap.